Remapping the Illegitimate Border (Countering the Legacy of the War of 1812 and the Treaty of Ghent), an installation piece by artist Dylan Miner in collaboration with Indigenous and Latino Youth of Waawayeyaattanong, the Autonomous Windsor-Detroit Borderlands, at the Art Gallery of Windsor during the Border Cultures: Part One (homes, land) exhibition. (Photo: Frank Piccolo)

Itah Sadu from A Different Booklist, an independent bookstore and literary cultural destination in Toronto, receives the 2016 Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts (Arts Organization Award). (Photo: Sonia Cacoilo)

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Shoshana Wasser

Francophone Cultural Centres Now Eligible to Book OAC-Funded Artist Educators

April 21, 2015

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is expanding access to its Artists in Education (AIE) program to include Francophone Cultural Centres. Until now this program only supported professional artists working with students in classroom settings. Now, French-speaking artists may also work with children and youth in Francophone cultural and community centres.“Opening up this program to allow francophone cultural and community centres to participate will not only respond to the growing demand but will increase arts opportunities for French-speaking kids who may not have access to the arts in other parts of their lives,” said François Boivin, Acting Francophone Arts Officer.

Professional artists working in this field often work in multidisciplinary ways and develop projects that may be completely new to the young people involved. Artists have led activities such as creating stop-motion animations, composing and recording original music, making glass mosaic murals, designing and making batique paintings, and many more.

Background

Each year, OAC posts a list of artists who have been selected by a jury of arts education professionals in the field. This roster contains the names of the funded artists, their contact information and a brief description of the projects available. Now francophone cultural and community centres as well as schools may contact artists directly if they are interested in a particular project. Artists themselves may approach these organizations if they would like to work with kids and youth for a minimum of five days on a project. OAC provides funding for each artist for a maximum of 150 hours. There is a separate funding pool to cover travel costs, if the artist is not based in that community. OAC’s AIE roster has two separate lists for English and French-speaking artists as well as an Aboriginal Artists in Schools roster.

For more than 50 years, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians. In 2016-17, OAC funded 1,657 individual artists and 1,098 organizations in 212 communities across Ontario for a total of $50.8 million.